What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Butanediol
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
Surfactant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
Emollient
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Gentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract
Abrasive
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Methylparaben
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Propylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Glutamate
MaskingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, 1,2-Butanediol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cyclopentasiloxane, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, CI 77891, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium PCA, Caprylyl Methicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Magnesium Sulfate, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, CI 77492, Dimethicone, Magnesium Stearate, CI 77491, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Bisabolol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Methylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 20, Propylparaben, Sodium Glutamate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, DMDM Hydantoin, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
